Essential Teacher Interview Tips for 2025: How to Impress and Land Your Dream Teaching Job!

Taken from my old blog but 'tis the season of teacher burnout and thinking about the grass that may be on the other side...

Our Principal just sent out an interview schedule for the week for several new positions. I remember when I first started out I was so naive. I barely prepared, my friends warned me (they had been on a few interviews already) but people came naturally to me. I grew up as a customer service associate at a large grocery store, not too shabby of a waitress, and had become quite the lover of the limelight. I figured I would walk into my very first interview and nail it, then nail my next one, and next thing you know I'd be shooting down offers.... HA!

The real world knocked me right back into reality! College taught me that I should bring a portfolio with me of lesson plans, copies of my resume, and exemplars. I was unprepared for the questions they had asked because I never truly had to make decisions for my own classroom. Sure, I had students teaching and it must be assumed that I had full control... except that wasn't the experience I had.

My student teaching was a BREEZE! I had subbed in the building before so I knew the students. It was a very small town, wealthy, upper class set of students in front of me that never had issues.

Needless to say, I was turned down from 100s of jobs and only managed to score 5 interviews. The job-- the ONLY job-- that I got hired for was the one I was a hot mess for. I had got a flat tire the morning of, showed up late, and forgot all of my materials at home because I was so frazzled. The woman loved my honesty and sense of humor. It was the first time I was truly myself, comfortable, and relaxed.

Now that I'm on the other side of the coin (in a different district) and a trusted staff member to attend interviews...

I have a few tips on nailing your next interview:

1. Come prepared-- 9/10 we won't look at your portfolio, but if you have it with you it looks more professional.

2. Take notes! For goodness sake take notes. Nothing irks me more than someone who comes in and just tries to blow smoke up our butt. We can tell the difference between those who actually want THIS position and those who are just going through the routine.

3. Smile.... but not too much. I have never met a good teacher that doesn't smile at their students. If you look too serious, how are you going to roll with the punches-- because believe me, there a lot of punches in teaching.

4. We don't care what you look like. For the love of teaching please don't show up with 10 lbs of make-up on. i interviewed a candidate once with the longest fake eyelashes on-- I couldn't even focus on what she was saying because I couldn't stop staring at her eyes.

5. On the other hand-- dress is important. Business casual. Don't over do it-- you'll look stuffy and unapproachable. As a teacher you're students need to be comfortable around you but still understand that you are not their friend. Don't wear a suit but don't wear shorts and a t-shirt either.

6. Be genuine. Yes we care about your knowledge of teaching, buzzwords, and content, but we care a lot about who you are too. We want to know if your a team player, if you have a sense of humor, if your honest...

7. Don't just focus on the principal. They are the final decision, however, they look to us as a huge factor too. I remember getting a bad vibe about a candidate and the principal immediately said it wouldn't be a good fit.

8. Ask questions! Please, please, please do this. I know it gets overwhelming and hard to remember everything but write them down beforehand. This again shows that not only do we want to know if your a good fit but also if we are a good fit for you. There is nothing worse than taking a job just for the sake of having one and hating it.

9. Don't name drop. If you have a friend who can help you get an interview-- awesome. However, if you are in an interview and drop a name, you have no idea how OUR relationship is to that person. I interviewed a candidate who told us she worked with one of my immediate teammates. As soon as I heard that, knowing the trouble I have with this teammate, I stopped listening.

10. Have fun! If you want to be a teacher it should be because you want to love what you do. Show that. If you truly enjoy what you do-- at least think you will if your fresh out of student teaching, it will show. Just relax and enjoy the conversation with your hopefully new friends.